Game



l May 21, 1940- 2 A. STEINER 2,201,802

GAME

Filed March 8, 1959 INVENTOR. AL BERr 57E/NER ATTORNEY.

Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a game. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel, hand operated device used for throwing and catching a ball so as to simulate the playing of 5' hand ball, volley ball or basket ball and the like, and develop the skill of the operator or operators indulging in the game.

In playing games requiring manipulation, the player often develops skill which affords keen l" satisfaction and pleasure both to the player and spectators. The more simple the device used, the easier it is for one to acquire skill thereby, while at the same time obtaining pleasure and recreation therefrom.

l5 It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide .an easily constructed, economic, manually operable game which can be used by the ordinary person of non-athletic ability.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a game device for violently and suddently ejecting a ball therefrom and which is adapted to catch the same ball, depending on the direction of movement of the device.

One other and more detailed object of the present invention is to provide a flexible, easily operable, game device requiring the use of bothhands and adapted to afford skill and exercise to the user.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention `includes a game device having a flexible basket, a plurality of elastic means extending from a portion of the basket, a plurality of relatively longer non-elastic means extending from another portion of the basket, and manually operable means retaining the ends of the elastic and non-elastic means.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in which simila character references relate to like parts throughout, a conical shaped net I is preferably provided, Whose terminal portions II and I2 are mounted in any suitable manner onto annular members I3 and I4 respectively. It is to be noted that the net may be made of any suitable flexible or cord-like material and that lower annular member I4 is of a relatively smaller diameter than member I3. Furthermore, lower annular member I4 is adapted to be of a size smaller than a ball I5 which is used in conjunction with the game for playing therewith.

In order to operate the network, for ejecting ball I5 therefrom, there is provided a. plurality of elastic members I6, II, I8 and I9 connected at one end to openings 20, 2|, 22 and 23 respectively disposed at spaced intervals in the periphery of annular member I3. The other ends of the elastic members are connected to eyelet mem- A"li bers 24, 25, 26 and 2l' respectively in a pair of opposed handles 28 and 29, respectively.

Each of said handles 28 and 29 is provided with a pair of openings 30 and 3I respectively for accommodating the ends of non-resilient cord members 32 and 33. It is to be noted that said cord members are knotted at their middle portions 34 and 35 respectively between a pair of eyelets or holding portions 36 and 31 of lower annular member I4. Said cord members 32 and 33 i5 are non-resilient and relatively longer than elastic members I6, Il, I8 and I9, and limit the outward movement of the handles 28 and 29, when used for ejecting ball I5.

In the operation of the game as described, a ball I5 is placed inside of net I0, each of handles 28 and 29 being held in each hand so that elastic members I6, I1, I8 and I9 support the net and cords 32 and 33 hang loosely therefrom. When the handles are quickly drawn away from each other, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the elastic members yield to the pull on the handles and the cords are flicked thereby forcing the ball out of the net in a vertical or any other desirable direction. The skill acquired by the player in playing thev game becomes most evident when he can catch the ball in the'net. The game furthermore can be played similarly to volley or hand ball and affords excellent pastime in physical and recreational activity. It is to be noted, furthermore, that the net can be swung like a hammock while the elastic members are brought under tension by drawing the handles away from each other. In doing so, the elastic members Will be stretched until they become equal to the length of the cords and the lower part of the net will be drawn toward the top thereby ejecting the ball fron the net. In catching the ball, the elastic members are relaxed so the net will spread and permit catching of the ball.

A game device made according to the present invention is easy to assemble, relatively inexpensive and simple to use. It tends to promote physical skill and pleasurable relaxation to the user. Teams may be made up using the game device to build sports competition.

While one preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and shown, it is to be understood that modifications as to materials, form, arrangement .and use of parts may be made Without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A device for playing games with a ball comprising a net adapted to retain the ball, a plurality of elastic means connected to opposite portions in the top of the net, a plurality of non-elastic means in connection with opposite portions in the lower part of the net, and a plurality of manually operable means in connection with the elastice and non-elastic means adapted to be drawn away from each other for actuating the net.

2. A device for playing games with a resilient ball, comprising a net adapted to retain the ball therein, a plurality of elastic members oppositely connected to the top of the net, a plurality of longer non-elastic members connected to opposite sides of the bottom of the net, and a pair of handle members in connection with said elastic and non-elastic members adapted to stretch the elastic members until they reach the length of the nonelastic members thereby permitting ejection of the ball from the net.

3. A device according to clairn 2 in which the net has a conical shape and is flexible.

4. A device according to claim 2 in which the top of the net is provided with an annular member for the elastic members, while the lower part of the net is provided with an annular member for the non-elastic members.

5. A device for playing games with a rubber ball, comprising a conical net adapted to retain the ball therein, a plurality of elastic means in opposed connection with the top portion of the net, a plurality of longer non-elastic means in connection at one of their ends with opposed sections of the lower portion of the net, and a pair of handles for the elastic and non-elastic means adapted to be drawn apart for flicking the ball from the net and drawing the top and bottom portions of the net together.

6. A device for playing games with a ball, comprising a conical shaped net adapted to retain the ball therein, a pair of elastic members each having one of their ends in opposite connection with the top portion of the net, a pair of relatively longer cord members having one of their ends in opposite connection with the bottom portion of the net, and a pair of handles for the elastic and cord members adapted to pull them away from the net whereby the lower part of the net is drawn toward the upper part of the net and the ball is ejected therefrom.

7. A device for playing games with a ball comprising a net for the ball, an annular member in the top part of the net for retaining the slope of the same, an annular member of relatively smaller diameter for retaining the shape of the net and giving it a reduced lower section, a pair of elastic members having one of their ends con nected to opposite parts of the upper annular member, a pair of relatively longer cord members in connection at one end with opposite parts of the lower annular member, and a pair of handles for the oppositely disposed members adapted to be drawn apart whereby the elastic members expand until they reach the length of the cord members and the ends of the net are brought toward each other to eject the ball from the net.

8. A device according to claim 7 in which the net is conical shaped and the annular members are provided with eyelets for the elastic members and the cord members respectively.

9. A device according to claim 7, in which the elastic members are stretched when the handles are drawn away from each other and the lower portion of the net is brought toward the top thereof, said members reaching a length substantially equal that of the cord members to permit ejection of the ball from the net.

l0. A device for playing with a ball comprising a pair of manually operable handles, a conical shaped net for the ball, intermediate the handles, elastic means interconnecting the top of the net and the handles, and non-resilient means connecting the handles and passing through the lower portion of the net adapted, upon drawing the handles away from the net, to raise the ball from the net and draw the portions of the net together.

11. A device for playing games with a ball comprising a pair of oppositely disposed, manually operable members, a conical net for the ball, intermediate vthe handles, annular means in the top portion of the net, elastic means interconnecting the net and the members, and a cord in connection with the manually operable members passing through the net adapted upon drawing the members away from the net to raise and eject the ball from the net.

` ALBERT S'I'EINER. 

